Malu Kerni
With just a day left for Raksha Bandhan, the markets are packed with customers purchasing various items to make the occasion special.
To lure the customers, the departmental stores, jewellery showrooms, garments shops and other fancy stuff outlets have put up sales with discounts running up to 50 per cent.
Not just a festival -Raksha Bandhan signifies everlasting love, emotions and eternal bonding between brother and sister. Celebrated in different ways with different names allover India, this festival also has a deeper meaning and spiritual significance.
Taking the simplicity out, these days the festival has gone a little bit fashionable. Earlier, a plain, simple, red-coloured thread or a multicolour thread was enough to symbolise a brother’s pledge on Raksha Bandhan to protect his sister. But today, the exclusive fancy Rakhis have replaced that simple thread.
This year designer handmade Rakhis are the centre of attraction. These Rakhis ranging from as low as Rs 20 to Rs 5,000 are available in the market, whereas special Rakhi shops are also set-up in malls and other shopping centres. With most girls opting for small and decent rachis handmade Rakhis, the trend of silver and gold Rakhis has also picked up. Several jewellery shops are even making gold and silver Rakhis ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 10,000.
Following the ‘Doklam’ standoff between India and China, one can see a major fall in the demand and sale of Chinese Rakhis. May be due to patriotism or due to the strong campaign launched on social media, calling for a boycott of Chinese products there is a major downfall in sale of Chinese products this year.
There are handmade Rakhis with OM, Swastik symbols, beads, multicolour cystals, coloured stones, Mantra Rakhis, mobile phone Rakhis, Hanuman Rakhis and many other handcrafted rakhis.
Heavy rush is being witnessed on the roads as everyone is in hurry to buy gifts and Rakhis for their brothers.
Shivya Sharma, a 4 year old girl busy in selecting a cute Rakhi for her brother, said that I will buy Rakhi with OM as it will protect my brother and I am going to buy the same for me.
The Raksha Bandhan festival signifies eternal bond between sister and brother and is celebrated with traditional pomp and gaiety in Jammu city.
